Marcus Evans is proud to announce the return of the HR Summit 2026, taking place this October at the Crowne Plaza Surfers Paradise in Queensland, Australia. Now firmly established as one of the most respected gatherings of senior HR and people leadership professionals in the Asia-Pacific region, the summit brings together Chief People Officers, CHROs, and HR executives from some of Australia’s most prominent organisations for two days of high-impact dialogue, peer exchange, and strategic insight.
A Programme Built for the Realities of Modern HR Leadership
The 2026 programme has been designed to address the issues that are genuinely defining the HR agenda right now. As artificial intelligence continues to reshape the way organisations operate, HR leaders are under increasing pressure to move beyond adoption and into meaningful adaptation. The summit will explore how to craft technology strategies that demonstrate tangible value, build change-ready workforces, and enable agile responses as the business landscape continues to evolve at pace.
Beyond technology, the programme takes a hard look at what it means to build careers worth staying for. With talent retention remaining a critical challenge across industries, sessions will focus on prioritising ongoing skill development and aligning individual growth with the strategic needs of the business, both today and into the future.
Leadership culture sits at the heart of this year’s agenda. Attendees will explore how HR functions can secure a genuine seat at the strategy table, driving transformation initiatives that connect business goals with workforce planning and employee development. Alongside this, the summit will address the very real challenge of bridging generational differences within teams, crafting compelling employee value propositions that resonate across a diverse workforce, and improving both recruitment and retention outcomes.
Wellbeing and resilience also feature prominently, with sessions dedicated to reinforcing leadership capability at all levels and building cultures that can sustain performance during periods of uncertainty. Rounding out the programme is a focus on data as a strategic asset, exploring how workforce analytics and people data can be used to anticipate challenges and inform smarter, faster decision-making.
An Exceptional Speaker Faculty
The HR Summit 2026 brings together a faculty of practitioners whose experience spans global corporations, government-linked organisations, and industry leaders across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Sarah Derry, Group Chief People Officer at The Star Entertainment Group, will deliver the keynote address, drawing on her extensive experience leading people strategy through periods of significant organisational change. The summit will be moderated by Lauren Stanton, Oceania Talent Leader at EY, whose expertise in talent strategy and organisational capability brings both rigour and perspective to the programme.
The broader speaker faculty includes HR and Talent gurus from Monash University, Publicis Groupe ANZ, Seven Network,ABB, bp, Metro South Health, BaptistCare, Peabody Energy, Airbus, Bindaree Food Group, YMCA Victoria, Wilson Group, CBRE, Sedgman and others.
An Exclusive Platform for Strategic Connection
Beyond the formal programme, the HR Summit 2026 provides a carefully curated environment for senior executives to connect with peers, evaluate relevant solution providers, and build the professional relationships that drive long-term organisational impact. Marcus Evans applies a rigorous selection process to ensure that every participant, whether an HR executive or a solution provider, is present for a reason.
With 40 years of experience producing premium business events across the globe, Marcus Evans continues to set the standard for executive intelligence and peer-level exchange.
For further information on attending, speaking, or partnering opportunities RSVP or contact:
Christophoros Ioannou | Marketing Director
Marcus Evans Summits
christophorosi@marcusevanscy.com
